NIGERIA – Journalists and media personalities from the industry were rewarded and celebrated for their outstanding journalism and media excellence at the concluded Golden Pen Awards organised by Nigerian Breweries in Lagos, reports Beverage Industry News.

The awards seek to enhance professionalism, objective reportage of events in Nigeria and promotion of fine ethics within the journalism profession.

Eric Dumo of The Punch Newspaper emerged the NB Golden Pen Reporter of the Yea, the first runner-up was Bayo Akinloye of Thisday Newspapers while Chikodi Okereocha of The Nation was the second runner-up.

Vanguard Newspapers’ Bunmi Azeez garnered the Photo Journalist of the Year award, Odutayo Odesanya of the Punch emerged the first runner-up, while Lucy Ladidi of The Guardian Newspapers was the second runner-up.

Mojeed Alabi, a reporter with the New Telegraph won the ‘NB Report of the Year’.

Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Reporter of the Year received a cash prize of US$5,470.46 (N2 million) while the first runner got US$2,735.23 (N1 million) and the second runner up went home with US$2,051.42 (N750, 000).

In the Photojournalist category, the overall winner received US$2,735.23 (N1 million) plus a gift item while the first and second runners-up were rewarded with US$2,051.42 (N750, 000) and US$1,367.62 (N500, 000) respectively.

The winner of the Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Report of the Year received US$2,735.23 (N1 million) and a gift item.

Nigerian breweries receive entries for the award every year, which are assessed by a panel of independent judges.

The awards which initially focused on Education, Youth Empowerment and Talent Development, changed its theme to agriculture, local product sourcing and industrial development.

The shift was in line with the country’s push towards economic recovery as well as achieving full potential to become self-sufficient.

“With the completion of that three-year phase, we directed the attention of the Nigerian media to Agriculture, Local Sourcing and Industrial Development, as the thrust for the 9th Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Award.

This theme remains the focus for this milestone 10th edition of the awards.

“The emphasis on Agriculture, Local Sourcing and Industrial Development is not only in tandem with the current push for economic recovery in the country, but also key to making it achieve her full potential to become a self-reliant nation,” said Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Jordi Borut Bel.

The guest speaker of the event, Dr. Reuben Abati called on the media to emphasise the story of diversification and generate conversation by emphasising the story and picture in the minds of the people, at the same time maintaining diversification of Nigeria’s economy as a topical agenda.

He challenged the media to support the efforts to domesticate the Nigerian economy, maintaining that Nigerian Breweries has set a worthy example on how to grow agriculture and local industry.